The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is a compromise started a few years ago. Prior to its implementation, if you were found to be gay, you were escorted to the door. But gays don’t seem to appreciate compromise. They seem to like to promote their way and only their way.

They are not being forced to leave the service because someone “asked,” they are leaving because they “told” someone their sexual preference. Having Lady Gaga promote their position hurts their cause. It used to be we had to go to carnivals to see freaks, now we just need to turn on MTV or other “entertainment” channels. The compromise is working; leave it alone.

— wflasme

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OK, you are heterosexual; we will compromise with you as well. You can eat, but you are not allowed to swallow. You can inhale, but you cannot exhale. You can work, but you must do it with one arm and one leg tied behind your back.

Sounds pretty ridiculous, doesn’t it? Well, playing pretend is something children do. Adults are supposed to be educated and have a better understanding of what is right. Why should homosexual people be asked to pretend they are something they are not?

— Jeff

Like most Mainers, I am a live-and-let-live type of person, but having served in the military, I feel that openly gay activity in the military will only undermine morale. When you are in the military, you want others to have your back, and they need to count on you in life-and-death situations.

What happens when somebody is openly gay, and someone who has a strong moral principle is against gays? Is that person likely to risk his life to save that person, or vice versa? Just as you don’t have men and women shower together in the military (I’ll leave it up to the individual to decide if that would help or hurt morale in the military), you would be very uncomfortable showering with men who look at you in a sexual way in the showers.

I just think our military men and women have enough to worry about and should not be part of a social experiment at this point in our history that could very well undermine our military’s effectiveness. Keep “don’t ask, don’t tell.” It seems to have been working.

— swann2001

Many of my family have served in the military, and some made the ultimate sacrifice. To a person (that I know of), none of them would have cared less if the soldier beside them was gay or straight. However, making sexual “stuff” public rather than keeping a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy opens the door for all kinds of nonessentials that detract from the prime responsibility of the military, which is protecting our citizens and our country.

Creating an atmosphere of sexual openness in a military setting does not facilitate military activities but detracts from them. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is a common-sense policy that should apply to all of us, since what goes on in my neighbor’s bedroom is none of my business, regardless of whether the person is gay or straight.